Sports

Women’s Basketball

REBEKAH VAN DIJK

Putting the previous year’s four-win season behind them was paramount for the 2014-15 women’s basketball Mavericks. With the help of freshman Rebekah Van Dijk, the team did just that. The 6-5 center was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and earned All-Sun Belt second-team honors. She led all NCAA Division I freshmen with 16 double-doubles and was selected to the 2015 Full Court NCAA Division I Women’s Mid-Major Freshman All-America team. “I’m a big believer in post play, and that’s what our offense centers around,” coach Krista Gerlich says. “Rebekah was a perfect fit for that.” Van Dijk, who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds, was one of 11 newcomers who helped UTA win 17 games and finish tied for fourth in the conference. The Nazareth, Texas, native attributes the team’s success to buying into Gerlich and her staff’s coaching philosophy. “I came here and thought I just had to play my best and do what I could for the team. I was excited to win awards, but it all happens with the team. I couldn’t have done it without them.”